Industry in Modern Southwark

Although Southwark's Industrial base survived largely intact
into the second half of the Twentieth Century. the population
plummeted as better transport system allowed the workers to
move into healthier suburbs. The population nearly halved from
its peak at the end of the 19th Century but housing and social
conditions improved.

Most of Southwark's Industries survived or were rebuilt after
the Second World War, but the decline of the London Docks in
the face of new Containerised docking methods began to effect
the geographic advantages of the site. In 1970 Surrey Docks
were closed and within the next 15 years Southwark lost 50%
of its industrial capacity. Unemployment rose to levels not
seen since the Great Depression.